Senators want biodiesel support

Click to EnlargePhoto:

May 15, 2014 at 4:51 am

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senators from North Dakota and Minnesota say the Obama administration should retreat on a proposal to make significant changes to renewable fuel standards and show its support for the biodiesel industry.

Democratic Senators Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota and Al Franken and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota say that biodiesel production has led to thousands of jobs and remains a clean, safe form of energy.

The three spoke at an event at the Capitol on Wednesday along with biodiesel producers and senators from Indiana, Illinois and Washington.

The senators are calling on the Obama administration to reconsider a rule change proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency that would reduce the required amount of biodiesel in the United States. The senators say the rule wasn't well thought out.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar has been meeting with Minnesota turkey producers to hear their concerns about the bird flu outbreak, and says she plans to speak with U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack soon to discuss the federal response to the crisis. Read More...